The Lorin Hollander Award celebrates the artistry of one of the greatest pianists of his generation. Lorin Hollander has appeared as guest soloist with virtually every major symphony orchestra in the world and is a veteran of over 2,500 performances across the globe. The American Prize is delighted to share the legacy of this legendary artist through the re-naming of the award for Piano Concerto Performance in his honor.

For more about the extraordinary life and career of Lorin Hollander, please visit lorinhollander.com.

REVISED Preliminary DEADLINE for postmark or emailing of application(s):
Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
Automatic extensions to Monday, June 3, 2019 for those who need more time and request it in advance of the June date by emailing theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Piano Performance, solo and concerto divisions, recognizes and rewards the best performances by classically trained pianists in America in 2019-20, based on submitted applications.Pianists performing with others may also apply for The American Prize in Chamber Music Performance. (Click the "Competitions" button, above.)

Complete updated listings of winners and runners-up from all seasons will soon be found on the Winners' Pages.

WHAT CONTESTANTS WIN:The American Prize is more than monetary. Semi-finalists, finalists and winners are announced to national arts media and on our websites, where winners are profiled. Semi-finalists, finalists and winners earn the right to use The American Prize logo and official seal on printed programs and other documents, and on the web.

SEMI-FINALISTS: All semi-finalists receive official certificates.

FINALISTS and RUNNERS-UP: All finalists and runners-up receive certificates and written, unbiased evaluations from our distinguished national panel of judges. When winners are announced on The American Prize blog, RUNNERS-UP are also profiled on the blog with their photos, biographies and website links.

WINNERS: A single winner in each category and/or division is selected. Winners receive certificates, written evaluations, personalized press releases sent by us to local media and other contacts you provide as part of your application, and cash prizes up to $500, depending on the year, the category and the number of entrants. Only with your explicit permission, excerpts of winning performances may be posted to The American Prize channel on YouTube.

The judges reserve the right to award citations and honorable mentions as warranted, and to combine categories when necessary. The decision of the judges is final.

OVERVIEW:The American Prize in Piano Performance is offered in two divisions: solo piano and concerto, with categories based on age, education and experience. Applications may be made by the pianists themselves, by teachers, colleagues, or other knowledgeable individuals. Pianists may apply in the solo piano division, the concerto division, or both.

In Concerto division, the categories are:
1. professional (the musician has paid employment as a performing pianist or piano teacher)
2. college/university (the pianist is seriously pursuing a professional music career)
3. community (the pianist pursues music as a avocation)
4. gifted high-school-age pianist

Beginning in 2018-19, concerti for multiple keyboards (one of which must be piano) by Bach, Mozart, Poulenc, etc, or for piano and orchestra instrumental soloists, such as the Beethoven Triple, are also eligible. Please check "Multiple Concerto" on the applicaton form.

ELIGIBILITY:The competitions of The American Prize are open to all U.S. citizens, whether living in this country or abroad, and to others currently living, working and/or studying in the United States of America, its protectorates and territories. The American Prize does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender, age, spiritual or personal belief, disability, sexual preference or gender identification.All application fees must be remitted in U.S. funds.

HOW TO APPLY:

Every applicant must send certain required information by email.

Applicants can then complete their application either of two ways:

A. ONLINE ONLY: pay fees online, submit the downloaded application as a PDF file, along with the required emailed information (see application form), and include links to your online audition selections. (Application forms for The American Prize can be filled out on computer, saved and emailed by using Adobe Reader 11. Download it free here.)

—or—B. BY MAIL & EMAIL: mail the completed, downloaded application form and send audition selections on disc or tape to the office, and email the required information (see application form), pay fees online, or by check, by money order or credit card.

1. Download the application form for The American Prize in Piano Performance, concerto division. Select the category which best identifies the applicant.
2. MAIL the completed application form by the deadline date or EMAIL it as a PDF attachment with your required email.
3. If providing audition selections ONLINE, include the links to them in your required email (see application form.)

4. If providing audition selections BY MAIL, include two identical recordings of the applicant in performance, with the selection(s) clearly indicated on both the recording itself and on the recording's cover or box. Be sure it lists applicant's name.
5. Be sure to sign the form and pay the application fee. Pay ONLINE (click "FEES/GIFTS" in the menu bar, above), or use this link: "Pay competition fees", or send check, money order or credit card information by mail.
6. Be sure to email the required information (see application form.)

The application fee is $45 per application. Pay ONLINE (click "FEES/GIFTS" in the menu bar, above) or use this iink: "Pay competition fees" pay by credit card, or make checks payable to HCMT/The American Prize (see application form.) Application fees are nonrefundable. No incomplete applications will be accepted. When paying online, BE SURE to identify the applicant with the payment.

REQUIREMENTS for the RECORDED AUDITION:

The American Prize in Piano Performance (concerto division):

You need not prepare a special tape for The American Prize. A previous recording, whether of a concert made in front of an audience or one created in a recording session without an audience, is perfectly acceptable. Neither the location nor the repertoire of any qualified individual limits eligibility, provided the general guidelines listed below have been met. Excellence within categories is the primary criteria for the selection of finalists and winners.

1.MAIL recordings of, or email ONLINE links to, a recording of a complete concerto (or similar concerted work) from the standard repertoire, performed with the original instrumental accompaniment (orchestra, chamber orchestra, mixed ensemble, etc—not a second pianist). In the high school division a single movement, not the whole concerto, is acceptable. Recordings must have been made within the last five years. Audition materials may be audio or video, as is your preference.

2. If sending recordings BY MAIL, performers and works must be clearly identified on the discs and covers or video boxes. We prefer DVD or VHS video of the applicant, but will accept CD audio recordings. No cassette tapes.

3. If submitting ONLINE links, include them in your required email. Be sure to identify the links by title of the selection and provide any passwords necessary, so judges can easily access your audition. Links must remain active until results in the category are officially announced. PLEASE NOTE: The responsibility for the viability of links rests with the contestant. Please double-check that they work correctly.

GENERAL TIMELINE for this competition:Final deadline for postmark or emailing applications, with extensions available by emailed request: Monday, June 3, 2019. Applications will be acknowledged by email.

In general, the entire competition process is completed in several months. Semi-finalists are announced in the fall, finalists in the winter, followed by winners—after which all certificates, evaluations and prizes are mailed. Specific dates for the announcement of each stage of the competition are posted in regular updates to the competition's blog and facebook pages. Find those links on the homepage of this website.

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts are administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc. (HCMT), the 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Danbury, CT.